retalliation to an attack, which may occur outside or inside your body. Fighting back tears happens when in a public space and you dont want anyone to know or notice the tears streaming down your cheeks (fighting the inevitable).

Fighting back against The Man, taking things into your own hands and making a change. If one is a grade school geek, fighting back after being called four eyes is pointless and only results in broken glasses. Tis better to be fighting back with wit. (they usually will just look at you stoopid)